Grand Turk

Introduction

Grand Turk Island

Grand Turk is the western most island of the Turks and Caicos Islands and with a total population of about 5,500 is the largest of the Turks islands (Middle Caicos is the largest of the Caicos Islands). The island functions as the historical, cultural, administrative and economical hart of the country and has good facilities for travellers, both regarding transport (by boat and plane) as well as a wide range of hotels and restaurants. The beaches are probably its main feature though.

Sights and Activities

Events and Festivals

Salt Cay Day

This traditional Caribbean island festival has a peculiarly British feel in Turks and Caicos, thanks to the country’s status as an external territory of the United Kingdom. The events take place over three days, and include pageants, kite flying, bicycle races, maypole dancing, and a great deal of music, food and drink. It is held at the end of April as a traditional spring fete on the undisturbed islet of Salt Cay, near the capital island of Grand Turk.

Weather

Grand Turk has a very pleasant and tropical climate with generally warm and humid weather. The seabreeze makes things relatively mild though and water is never far away. Temperatures generally average around 30 °C during the day yearround and 23 °C at night. December to May is the dry season, where July to October is the rainy season, but this generally means some showers at the end of the day instead of days of rain on end. Hurricanes are possible though from August to October.

By Plane

By Boat

Grand Turk is rapidly becoming a popular cruise destination. A newly constructed cruise terminal built in 2006 serves several ships a week.

The Buccaneer is a ferry between Grand Turk and Salt Cay. It is passenger only and it takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Travelling is one Wednesdays and Fridays only and it departs Salt Cay at 7:00am and Grand Turk at 2:30pm.